28 Days of Thanksgiving in the Book of Psalms – Day 22

(This is a challenge between student and teacher. Rules of the challenge are found in the posting entitled: “A Challenge Has Been Presented Using the Book of Psalms.”)

Today’s Verse: “I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord.” Psalms 116:17 (NKJV)

I Give Thanks For: The Listening Ear of God!

“Call upon the name of the Lord” is a phrase that has been going through my mind a lot the past few days. Its a phrase we offer hear used in church sermons and various biblical teachings. Its a practice of many a christian believer within their personal relationship with their God. But what exactly does it mean? In Hebrew, the word call means to call out to, to cry unto and in the Greek the word means to invoke a person, to call a person by name. To me, it simply means what it says, call upon the name of the Lord.

The idea of “call upon the name of the Lord” is basic for salvation. It is fundamental to corporate worship. It is essential to experience God’s forgiveness. It is personal in sharing with God our uttermost needs and desires. It is comforting in the crying out for help in the midst of trouble. It is what brings hope in the midst of despair.

Whether it is our first time to call on the name of the Lord for salvation or it is something we continuously do as our relationship with God progresses, the practice of doing it is a really good thing. It gives us opportunity to surrender our lives to His will. It brings vitality to our spiritual growth. It encourages humility and it is a sign of our dependency upon our great God!

What I have learned, ever so often, in my walk with God is this. Whenever I call upon the name of the Lord, He, joyfully and lovingly, gives to me His listening ear. God hears that call. And it doesn’t really matter how often that call comes out of my mouth, God hears it. Regardless the circumstances that comes with that call, God hears it. At the very mention of His name, He is listening to His child.

I am so thankful that today I can call upon the name of the Lord!

Jesus! Jesus! Jesus! Just the mention of His name!

God is listening!